Apparatus for cleaning hats



Nov. 29, 1932. F. R. KUNG .APPARATus FOR CLEANING HATS Filed March 17, 1930 |.i||..||||||||||||- i. z

Patented Nov. 29, 117932 A Y nuns, or NEW vonk, NQ, Y. 'TAPPAnATUs ron omia.nine;V mrs appliance-111er nach .'17, 1930. swarm'. 436,440.

This invention is `directed to 'anv improved i method of an apparatus for cleaning hats,`

wherein the hat is subjected to the action of a dry cleaning agentunder pressure.A

5 The method. of Vthefpresent invention is: the

utilizan?unY of a dry cleaning agent, asY sand, which is directed onto hatV with selective pressure and while` the hatV is rotated, with the eiect to not only remove dirt fand im spots from the surface', but also produce a mild pouncing effect. Y

The apparatus withwliich the presentin` Y vention is particularly-concerned is designed with ya view to carrying out themethedand 15 includes a casing in which the hat is mounted former-e or less rapid rotation, and a nozzle, controlled from the exterior of the. casing, throng-h whichsand is delivered under-'zany desired pressure. The operation is visible 20 to the operator,who can direct the nomi as required for vreective'clearu'ng v i An essential object ofthe present method and apparatus is the provision of means whereby the hat may be cleanedl by a dry cleaning agent, to thus avoid the disadvantages of the usual wetcleaning, which as well known tends toY rub the surface dirt into the body of the'hat, generallyrresuitsin a loosening of the fur of the hat material f ilunder the necessary rubbing, and requires reshaping of the hat after cleaning, as `the Wet procs necessarily destroys the shape of the hat. Y e

v A further object is theprovisionv `of an apparatus wherein the dry cleaning material is recoveredV within the apparatus and con- -inually reused for cleaning, thereby, `materially reducingthe cost ofthe operation, as compared to the wet cleaning process.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevationof the apparatus, the lower portion of the fron-t wall being omitted to illustrate the operatingparts. Y Fig. Q-is a vertical central section, certai partsbeingshown in elevation'. f Fig. 3` is a plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is an elevation, partlyv in section of the means Yfor supporting the hat in inverted position for cleaning.y j. r

. Theimniovedapparatus'includes a easingr A" of( appropriate slze, as at 1, the rear pei-'tin p of the v'side walls-'2 of which are rearwardly convergent, so that thewdthof the rear'wall 3 ,is material-lyV less than.V that of the ,55 wall. V The front wall, throughout the upper portion is formed with an openingtn :be 'closed by a glass-door4, serving as a'rneans for mtroduclngand' removing. the hats, and

as .a means to permit the operator to observe 99 atall times the cleaning voperation;

The bottom of Hoor of the casing is in the form of a partition 5, with its forward upper edgeseouringto 'the frame of the casing im-y mediately below the door opening, and 'from f5.5

which the partition extend-s downwardly and rearwardlyY throughout the full interior-of ithe. casing.` 'The rear wedge of 'the partition terminates lshort of the rear wall 3, lwhere'it is extended as a depending section 6, in par- 1 D y alleljrelation to the rear wall 3., the sides and` bottom of the relatively narrow pocket 7 thus formed being closed, exceptfor a door-closed opening 8, through which the .material may be removed when too .soiledfor further-use. "35

A motor 9 is mounted on a transverse `strut l0, connected in the rame ystructure below the partitionp; The venergization,of the motor is controlled through the usual switch (not shown). and operates a power wheel 1l, 180

through abelt`12, the power wheel being mounted on a rising brace V,13 connected at the upper endftothe bottomjof theV partition 5; The power wheel, through reduced belt drive 14, operates a pulley 15,'support'ed in 'a5 i a bracket 16, the shaft of which pulley carries abevel gear 17. Y 'K Adrive shaft 18l is moun'ted at its lower end inthe bracket 16, is provided with a bevel gear v19in .mesh'with the gear 17, this *o power shaft extending through and above the partition 5." The drive 4shaft at the point .of extensionv through the parti-tion is provided 'with a suitable protecting gland and mounting 20, of any sui-table type, the purpose be- '95 ing to guide andy support the drive shaft and prevent thesand from yreaohiuig the shatter flowing through the partition at this point.

p A table-21 is removably supported onlthe npper end'ofthe drive shaft, the connection, i. H10l insuring rotation of the table with the drive shaft. A hat form is removably secured on the table, including the usual brim ring or support 22 and the hat or crown block 23. These parts may be separably connected to each other and to the table by pins 24, carried by one part and seated in appropriate holes in the cooperating part. Thus the hat form is designed to be rotatedby the drive shaft.

A nozzle guide is secured in the upper portion of the casing above the partition 5. This guide comprises parallel bars 25,-connected at their upper ends to the top of the casing, and extended downwardly therefrom `on slightly curved planes to a lpoint on one Voi the side walls somewhat abovet-he table 21. Anozzle 26, which preferably comprises a nozzle outlet 27 of appropriate form' and a mixing body 28 isv mounted 'for movement vertically of the guide barsl 25, there being spaced rollers 29 on each side of the body 28 to slidably embrace each of the guide bars. The nozzle is supported and operated through a rod 30 secured to the body 28 and extending upwardly through the top of the casing, Where it is connected to. a'hand lever 31, piv- Votally mounted on the casing'top; and op- "so erable as obvious to control the nozzle.

The guide Vbars 25 are connected near their lower ends byV across strip .32, which when engaged by the nozzle body causes a forward tipping of the nozzleend, for a purpose which will later appear. ,Y

'A flexible conduit 33 leads from the pocket 7' through the side wall of the casing and is connected to the nozzlebody 28, thus deliverh ing the dry cleaning agent, as sand. to the nozzle body. An air pressure conduit 34;, leads from any suitable source of air under pressure to the nozzle body 28, la manually Yoperable valve controlling the pressure, as

I In reversing the hat for cleaning the under side ot the brim. as will later appear. the hat form 1s removed and a Hanged box 36 is .ap-

plied to the table 21, in which the hat is placed in reversed order, a bloclr of wood or cork being inserted to prevent the sand from lentering the hat.

In the use of the apparatus, after assembling the form sections 22 and 23 on the table 21, the hat is placed over the crown form so that the rim rests on the rim section 22,. the

motor is started, air. under pressurev to the desired extent admitted through the conduit 34, and the sand which has been previously placed in the pocket 7' is drawn upwardly through the conduit 33, mingled vwith the Vair in the nozzle body 28, and projected through the nozzle 27 in the form of a fine stream of -sand Y moving under considerable pressure. v

The nozzle is manipulated lengthwise of the like fitted Within the hat.

^ reversed in the 'flanged box 36 and the latter placed on the .table 21, the forms' 22 and 23 having been removed. The interiorof the hat is massed vagainsththe sand by anysuitable filler, asa block of cork, wood or the under surface of the hat brim is now exposed and may be subjected to the abrading'action of the sand for cleaning by eective manipulation' of thek nozzle. It-will,-of course, be 'Y understood that the sand, immediately following contactwith the hat for cleaning purposes, falls onto the partition 5down -which it gravitates. tothe pocket where it is continually reused for cleaning operations. Thus as long as the sand remains sufiiciently clean, it may be continually reused for successive' hat cleaning operations and need be replaced only when uniit for further cleanl ing.

This method has many advantages 'over the usual hat cleaning processes. In the first jected to rubbing. This'not only has a Atendency to force the dirt into the fabricof the hat rather than eliminate the dirt, but also entirely destroys the original shapeoI" the hat, that is the shape in which itis Worn, and the vhat has to ,be-'reshaped. lThis is The bottom or place, the present method is a .dry method,

usually a diiiicultstep, in that generally the owner has his individual way of shaping his hat andthe cleaner very rarely is able to replace this shape Vwhen reshaping the hat after Wet cleaning. Furthermore, in the present vprocessthe nozzle may be held at any .pai ticular point on the hat Where an unusual condition requires alonger cleaning operation, and those portionsof the hat which lare fairly clean need lbesubjected but momentarily tothe sand.A Thus the operator may readily controlthe cleaningoperation in directing the sand with the greatest eifective-- ness at the desiredipoint or points andinsuri ing that all of the surface of the hat may be el'ectively and quickly brought to practically its original'state of cleanliness.

Of course, the trimming, as the external band of the hat, may be protected in anyraplili) i formed in the casing, a conduit communica-` propriate way during the cleaning operation. rIhus, for example, a rubber band of appropriate width may be placed over the hat band to protect the same againstthe influence of the sand. i

The use of sand under pressure, in addition to thoroughly and effectively vcleaning the hat, has a mild pouncing effect which thus tends to renew the life of the fur. operation is in effect a practical restoring of the hat to its original condition, for not only is the hat eifectively cleaned but practically refinished incident to the mild pouncing Aeffect in the use of the sandunder pressure.

What is claimed as new is :f-

l. An apparatus for cleaning hats including a casing, a hat form rotatable therein, nozzle guides carried by the casing, a nozzle movable longitudinally of the guides, a source of communication between the nozzle and a supply of sand, a source of communication between the nozzle and a supply of air under pressure, means operative from beyond the casing for moving the nozzle lengthwise of the guides, and means carried by the guides for tilting the nozzle at a determined point in the movement of the nozzle.

2. An apparatus for cleaning hats including a casing, a hat form rotatable therein,v

guides within the casing, a nozzle movable longitudinally of the guides, a sand pocket formed in the casing, a conduit communication between the sand pocket and nozzle, means for admitting air under pressure to the nozzle, and means operative from beyond the casing for moving the nozzle longitudi- Thus the Y sand delivering nozzle arranged for moving within the casing and directingsand under pressure toward the hat form, a guide for the nozzle, and a stopon the guide to cooperate with thenozzle at a predetermined point in its guided movement to change thesanddirecting path of the nozzle, and manual means for controlling the'nozzle movement.

y 6. An apparatus for cleaning hats including a rotatable hat form, a nozzleV for deliver-ing sand under pressure toward the hat form, and Vguides alongfwhich the nozzle is moved during sand delivery, said lguides being formed ata determinate point with means to engage and provide for tilting of the nozzle.

soy

In testimonyl whereof Ik afx my signature. v

FERDINAND RgKLING. [1.; a]

vsa

nally of the guides to direct sand und-er pres'-` Y sure onto a hat on said form.

3. An apparatus for cleaning hats including a casing, a hat form rotatable therein, guides within the casing, a nozzle movable longitudinally of the guides, a sand pocket formed in the casing, a conduit communication between the sand pocket and nozzle,

means Jfor admitting air under pressure Yto the nozzle, means operative from beyond the casing for moving the nozzle longitudinally of the guides to direct sand und-er pressure onto a hat on said form, and means carried by the casing Jfor directing the sand beyond the hat back into the pocket;

4. An apparatus for cleaning hats including a casing, ahat form rotatable therein,

guides within the casing, a nozzle movable longitudinally of the guides, a sand pocket tion between the sand pocket and nozzle,

means for admitting air under pressure to f ing a casing, a rotatable hat form therein, a 

